Cleveland Metroparks Zoo names Christopher Kuhar its new director

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has named Christopher Kuhar, the zoo's current curator of animals, as its new director. He'll take the job in January after the retirement of longtime director Steve Taylor.
"After an extensive national search, we vetted a deep pool of qualified zoological professionals and found the best candidate in our own backyard," said Cleveland Metroparks executive director Brian Zimmerman, in a news release.
Mr. Zimmerman said Dr. Kuhar, 39, “possesses a wealth of knowledge, exceptional talents and leadership that will continue to strengthen the zoo's important mission to connect people with wildlife."
Dr. Kuhar will be the 10th director in the zoo's 130-year history. Mr. Taylor has been director for 24 years.
“Steve Taylor has been a great mentor to me and I hope to be able to build upon his many accomplishments," Dr. Kuhar said in a statement.
As director, Dr. Kuhar will manage the zoo's animal collection and oversee daily operations. He also will help “implement the zoo's master plan and integrate it into the larger strategic plan for Cleveland Metroparks,” according to the news release.
Dr. Kuhar joined the zoo in 2008 as curator of primates and small mammals. His duties expanded and his title was changed to curator of animals earlier this year.
Prior to joining the Cleveland zoo, Dr. Kuhar was the research manager at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., where he studied animal behavior for nearly five years. He previously worked as a research assistant at Zoo Atlanta from 2000 to 2003 and at the Cleveland zoo from 1997 to 2000.
Dr. Kuhar received his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Akron in 1997, his master's in zoology from Oklahoma State University in 2000 and his doctorate in experimental psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2004.
He and his wife, Gayle, live in Strongsville. They have two children.